Braiding-machine.



No. 894,022. `PATEIT'I'ED JULY 21, 1908.

` B. LEPPER'HOPP.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 2. 1906.

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No. 894,022. PATENTED JULY 21, '1908.

B. LEPHPBRHOPP.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

1L .2 1906'. APPLICATIONS BD P2B BSHEETSSHEET'Z' Fig. 2.

I @Www/@MW No. 894,022. PATENTED JULY 2l, 1908.

i B. LEPPBRHOPF.

BRAIDING MACHINE'.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 2' 1906. Y 6 SHBETS-SHBET 3.

PATENTED JULY 2 1, 1908.

B. LEPPERHOP. BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIoN FILED P3112, 190e.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@uvam/tov `PATENTED JULY 2l, 1908.

B. LBPPBRHOPP.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1906.

s SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No. 894,022. PATBNTED JULY 21; 1908. B. LBPPBRHQFP.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 0.

yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNHARD LEPPERHOFF, OF BARMEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SUTRO BROS. BRAID COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF N EW YORK.

BRAIDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 190s.

Application mea February 2, 1906. serial No'. 299,187.

cation.

My' invention relates to a braiding machine for making single braiding or one thread, double braiding or two thread, triple braiding or three thread, flat braids as well as braiding of a greater number of threads A also the same different braidings in tubular form in any convenient length, producing each pattern as desired without adding to or taking from said braiding machine any part thereof. These various styles of braiding can be divided as desired into smaller braids or cords of different widths and lengths and at pleasure these separate braids `may be interbraided together again. This is made possible by the employment of a novel arrangement of curved raceways, outruns or runaround supplementary raceways in combination with vibrating and sliding switches controlled by a suitable jacquard mechanism, together with bobbin carriers propelled and directed by horn gears.

My invention consists of an inner circle of horngears and plates forming a continuous closed circuit or raceway such asis employed in tubular or cord braiding machines. Concentric and immediately adjoining and connected with said raceway and outside thereof, is a second continuous circle or raceway of horn gears and plates but open or disconnected at one place to produce flat braids. This second raceway is arranged so that the two raceways form a double continuous serpentine track. v Outside of this second raceway or circle of horn gears and plates which may be called the main raceway and immediately joined thereto, are pairs of gears and plates forming outruns from said raceway.

The use of these outruns will be explained in the description of making the various styles of braid which will accompany and form part of this specification. It must be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact order of arranging these several raceways as shown in drawings and described in the specilications but include the right to reverse the order as above stated, t. e., to place the closed raceway on the outside of the several circles of gears, the open raceway inside this and the outruns inside this second circle of gears if I feel so disposed, or these outruns or runarounds may be partly inside and partly outside. the two main raceways.

In the drawings -Figure 1 is a plan of a braiding machine in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a lan of a modification. Fig. 3 is a like view of) another modification. Fig. 4 is a plan of a modified form of the machine shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional side illustration of the machine shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a plan on an enlarged scale of the top plates and other elements of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 illustrates a group of horn gears. A

In Fig. 1 a part of the top plates are broken off exposing some of the horn gears and the pitch circles of the remainder, on the bottom plate of machine. On the left are shown the top plates, raceways, outruns and switches; The usual ty e of jacquard machine is shown on the left lower corner of bottom plate. Six horn gears are used in this construction in the inner and main raceways and three horn gears in the outruns.

The machine shown in Fig. 2 produces braids similar in design to that of machine shown in Fig. 1 but the arrangement of gears is somewhat different. As in Fig. 1, six horn gears are employed in .the two continuous raceways but the three horn gear outruns have been removed from the outer circle of gears and applied to the inside of the inner circle. These gears are not in pairs as in Fig. l but are separate and hence have a different effect on the thread passing around them, but not affecting the pattern of the braid. They are used to take the lace of the idle or empty six horn gears w en the braid is separated into smaller braids or cords. This explanation also applies to the outruns in Fi 1. These individual three horn gears an the raceway about them are termed runarounds. The right half of this figure shows the raceways, to switches, the left half, part of t ie horn gears and the balance is shown in outline; part of bottom plate of the machine is also shown with the jacquard machine.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the right half shows the horn gears, part by lines and circles andthe bottom plate of machine; on the left half are the top plates, raceways, outruns and switches with jacquard machine on bottom plate. In this yplan four horn gears are used in the inner and main raceways and three horn gears in the outruns. The outer or main continuous raceway shows the four horn gears of novel construction, having alternating long and short horn. The use of these latter is fully explained in the description which follows, of makin@ braid on this plan of. machine.

In tIie modification shown in Fig. 4, the right hand half shows the top plates, raceways, outruns and switches. The left half, the gear circles and some of the horn gears. In this plan four horn gears are used in the two continuous raceways as in Fig. 3,-but the outruns are constructed with three horn and five horn gears. The object of this is fully explained in the description of making braid on a machine built on this plan to which I will refer hereafter.

Fig. 5 shows the manner of joining the circles of gears and outruns. rIhe inner circle of horn gears have their teeth cut on a higher plane than that of the adjoining race circle. Xa and IzL are two of these gears. The main raceway gears are cut on a plane the same as in all braiding machines, as is shown by gears X and I. These two circles of gears must be joined together and it is necessary that gears must be applied to both circles of gears on the same plane to effect this. The outer circle of gears must, of necessity, be larger than those in the inner circle and hence contain a greater number of teeth if of the same diametrical itch. It is therefore apparent that it wou d not do to gear the two circles directly into each other as the horns in one circle of gears would not coincide with those of the other and bobbin carriers could not travel or interchange between the two circles. It has been found in practice that it is not necessary in well built machines, to have every horn gear of each circle engage with its mate on a radial line in the adjacent circle. I have therefore oined the two circles together at intervals only by means of gears on a lower plane than is occupied by the gears of the main raceway.

One pair of such gears, which contain the same number of teeth in each, is shown on the bottom of horn gears X and Xa. The outruns are on the same level as those of main raceway.

Fig. 7 shows a group of the horn gears from the same machine. Said figure also clearly shows the long and short horn gears, and Fig. 6 shows the peculiar form of the raceway at the point where the pin in foot of bobbin carrier slips off the end of the short horns to give to Athese four horn gears the effect of five horn gears, the sliding switches and the springs which are under the top plate and which serve as check stops to prevent the carriers getting jammed between the outer edge of the short horns and the race way where it is extended outward from the true circular path. In Fig. 6 in the center of each of the circle of plates forming part of the raceway between the two circles of gears, can be seen small circles. small holes which extend downward through the pillars or studs supporting these plates. In Fig. 3 these holes are designated by a small Into these holes can be fitted small tubes which extend to the height of the carriers. Through these tubes from bobbins placed under the machine can be introduced warp llingswhen needed to produce additional effects in the various braidings to be referred to hereafter. Y

The springs are shown at c', d', g and h', Fig. 6. It will be seen in Fig. 6 that by means of the vibrating switches, five bobbin carriers, shownby small circles in the raceway, have been confined in the raceway surrounding plates IV and V. The horn gears under these plates as may be seen in Fig. 7 contain only four horns each. As is known, for each bobbin carrier in a braidingmachine, there must be two horns and it would therefore be an impossibility to have more These represent than four carriers on these two plates and then they would rnot run as there would be a collision because of even horns being employed. It is a well known fact that all soutaches, as such braids are called, can only be produced on machines having an odd number of horns. As before explained, the extra two horns required to produce the soutache are supplied by retarding each carrier one horn as it passes around plates IV and V. l

In order that there may be no difficulty in understanding the various terms used in the following description of the making of braids, I will proceed to explain the meaning of the various names of braids employed by those skilled in the art of braiding. A soutache is a braid formed by the use of two horn gears and plates or their equivalent. The horn gears must always be uneven in the number of their horns, though they need not have the same number' of horns in both. Referring to the drawings, examples of horn gears producing soutaches are shown in Fig. 1, main gears I, II and outrun gear a make a soutache of seven strands. Gears II and a, represent a dissolved nine horn gear and produce the same effect as though they were one horn gear of nine horns. V and g, produce a soutache of nine strands. In Fig. 2 horn gears XI8L and XIIiL with their respective runarounds XIb and XIIb also produce a soutache of nine strands. In Fig. 3 horn gears I, II and Outrun gear b form a five strand soutache. Horn gears IV and V a five strand soutache. It would also be possible to make a seven strand soutache by using four plates such as main horn gears IX and X and outrun gears n and whatis marked s next to outrun gear r. In Figgli,

I-Iorn gears b, IV, p

` braid being we nd an example onv plates XX, XIX and ,at where a six strand soutache is produced.

A nine strand soutache can'be also formed as on plates XV, XVI and outruns .e and gear adjoining plate XIV. Very large soutaches can be formed by using plates of the inner raceway in addition to those of the main raceway with its outruns. A president braid is formed on .three lates andl horn gears or their equivalent. n sible to produce'a president braid by using plates I, II, III and outrun c. It would have ten strands.

formed on plates XIV, XVa, XVIa, with runarounds XIVb and XVIb. There. are twelve strands in this braid. President braids may also be produced on plans Fig. 8 and Fig. 4 in like manner as in Fig. 1. Very large president braids can be made as in the case of soutaches by using plates of the inner raceway in connection with those of the main raceway with its outruns. A flat braid is formed on four or more plates. The largest flat braider in general use contains 72 plates and has 145 carriers. An example of a flat braid is shown in F ig. 4 where plates XIII, XIV, XV and XVI with outrun z and the Outrun joining plate XII are making a small flat braid of 12 strands. There is an equivalent in this case to four plates. In like manner, flat braids of any desired width upl to the full capacity of the machine may be made on any of the constructions shown. In addition to these braids there can be also formed on this machine, gimps or twisted cords of many sizes by means of combinations of plates in the two concentric raceways with the adjoining outruns of runarounds.

A gimp or twisted cord may be best deiined as being a number of strands turning about one plate or its equivalent' and may have a core or iilling inside sup lied through the lilling posts with which alljhorn gears aresupplied. An example of twisted cord is shown in Fig. 1 where bobbin carriers traveling about plate VII, outruns L and Z make a cord of six strands. Had the bobbin carriers been directed about plates V, VIa, VII and outruns d and l, a cord of 12 strands would have resulted.

In Fig. 3 a cord is shown being formed about plates VII and Outrun i. This has four strands. In like manner 'cords may be made on any of .the constructions shown. The making of tubular braid will be made clear hereafter. Iwill also explain the meaning of the terms, one thread or singlebraiding, two thread or double braiding, and three thread or triple braiding. In the United States of America, these three braidings are known as diamond, plain, and hercules, respectively. A one thread or single braiding is the effect produced by passing one thread over one thread and under one Fig. 1 it would be pos- In Fig. 2 is shown a president .and under two threads.

thread and a machine producing such braiding can only employ one carrier to each horn gear. They are usually built with two horn gears although sometimes four horn gears are used with one half the number of carriers in service. called lace machines and hence all lace braiding machines can only make one thread or single braiding patterns of braids. It is possible however to produce on double or triple braiding machines, the one thread or single braiding. Two thread or double braiding is where one thread passes over two threads Machines making such braids are constructed with four horn gears and are the type of braiding machines most in common use. There will be two carriers to a horn gear in such machines. Three thread or triple braiding is where one thread passes over three threads and underA three threads. There are in this type of machine, six-horn gears and three carriers to ahorn gear. Double braiding as well as single braiding can be made on a triple braiding or hercules machine. There are four thread or quadruple braiders in use but they are very rare. They have eight horn gears and have four carriers to a gear. On my machine by combining certain plates together of the two concentric raceways such braiding can be also obtained. Thus it may be seen that a two thread braid machine will produce twice as much braid in a given time as a one thread or lace braider. In addition to these various braidings, I can with my machine produce at the same time, loose threads on top 'of the braid. In fact in my machine are combined all the possibilities of a large number of various kinds of braiding and lace machines, without changing a gear. A change of pattern cards is all that is needed.

The expression dissolved horn gears used in the description means the unison or gearing together of two or more horn gears to act in unison or form a single horn gear and is generally used in a continuous raceway, or to form outruns.

Itis presumed that all carriers have been making a three thread braid for some time, with or without figures by overlying threads, in which case the carriers forming the foundation braid would travel on the plates from I to XX. Those forming the iigures would run on the outer and inner run-way. If by a jacquard machine switches 1 2 and 3 are 4 put into a certain Iposition, then the carriers will return on the three horn outrunner a. The carriers on plates IV and V will return over outrunners l) and g by which two soutache braids are made. If in this manner, every third plate from the left is' closed against the rest of the carriers, so that these must turn back on the outruns adjoining these lates, then seven soutache braids can be ormed on this machine of on plates I and I f, whereby a 2 line braid is produced here also.

twenty plates. If on the other hand, after making a piece of braid, the above mentioned slides and switches remain in their position, but slide l and switch 2 are opened then a president braid is made on plates I, II, III, and c, which will be more visible by the employment of a heavy filling on plate II. Those carriers coming from the right hand return in this case from plate V over outrunner d. If you close in this manner from right to left every fourth plate, then two president braids are produced on both the right and the left, and on the four center plates also a 2 line braid. The carriers coming from` the left side, can, of course, be directed to return over Outrun e; those from the right over As can be seen in Fig. 1,V there are adjoined two 3 horn outruns to each 6 horn plate, from which, it is seen that the carriers need not return at permanently designated places, as is the case in all lace and other kind of braiding machines known until now. It is further to be seen that the carriers can produce a twisted thread or cord on each 6 horn gear, by using the adjoining outrun, as is shown on plates VII, h and l, and by these several means the making of patterns becomes unlimited.

From the above explanation it will be seen that after making a piece of three thread braid or cord, all carriers can be directed so, that one may produce a whole row of soutache or president braids, or narrower or wider braids, or only twisted threads or cords along side of each other; from these threads can be exchanged in such a' manner that a braiding is produced having the character of a lace. Of course, here also soutache, president braids and twisted threads or cords can be laced side by side in one pattern, which likewise could not be attained with any machine heretofore known. Another kind of pattern is produced when for instance, on the left plates I, II, III and IV' and on the right XVII, XVIII, XIX and XX, are closed against the others in such a manner that only single threads cross from IV over V to VI 5 on the right as many from XV over XVI to XVII. In a braid which is produced in this manner with open-work edges, it is only possible to direct threads in the center part over the inner row of gears, whereby this part will receive a pattern made from overlying threads whereby these atterns can be accentuated by the insertion of filling threads, which can be inserted on all plates designated by x. IVider president` braids are produced when, for instance, the carriers travel from left on plates I, II, IIIa, IV, V and g, in which case I is to be regarded as the first, II to IV as the second, V and g as the third plate.

It has been remarked above that alternately plain or open-work braid or cord or i tubular braid can be produced. If a certain length of braid has been finished, and it is the intention to make a cord or tubular braid, then on the left side of the machine those bobbin carriers coming from the right from the outer race-way, do not cross over any longer to plate II and I respectively or on the right to XIX and XX, butffrom III to IIa, respectively or from XVIII to XIXa, so that all carriers in the further process of manufacturing only travel on'the inner race-way, or only from the inner plates-IIa, I, XX, XIXa, and therefore traverse partly over the inner and partly overv the outer raceway, which is accomplished by the respective opening and closing of slide switches 1a lb at plates IIaL and IIIa as also of the corresponding slide switches (not shown) at the plates XIXa and XVIIIa.

I have already remarked that the cord or tubular braid can also be made open-work or like a lace. This is done by arranging the device so that those carriers that cross over from the inner to the outer race-way are partly made to return on any desired plate and partly to run through. Such a cord or tubular braid can also alternate with soutache and president braid. By connecting end plates I and XX with the inner runway, all carriages can also enter and go out from here.

Construction Fig. 2.-This is in the main the same as the preceding. If it is intended to make a plain braid or cord or tubular braid followed by an open-work braid, then the carriers coming from the right will run only on XI, XI, XIIa, XII", whereby at this place a braid is produced showing single, triple, triple and single braiding. If it is intended that in an open-work braid, carriers shall pass more than two 6 horn gears, then only the Shorn gears adjoining the 6 horns must be used, on which the carriers return, for instance, plates XIVb, XIVa, XVa, XVIa, XVIb. I-Iere, for example, is produced a president braid by using plates XIb, XI, XII, XIIIa, and XIII".

Construction Fig. 3.-In principle like construction Fig. 1. Here a two thread braid is produced by using plates I to XX. In construction Fig. l two outruns of 3 horns each were adjoining to each main plate over which those bobbin carriers returned that came from the left respectively right side when making a braiding having an openwork or lace-like character. I-Iere it is different. Here also the bobbin carriers can be made to return on each plate, as must be again specially mentioned. As is well known, plates, or rather horn gears, over which bobbin vcarriers are to return, must have an vuneven :numbery of horns, because otherwise the returning carriers will collide with those traveling in the opposite direction. Here also 2, respectively 3 main plates iso are needed for the productionmlof soutache or president braid, but then one such main.v

plate or gear remains unused (plate III).I This distance, however, must not be lost, and for this reason these four horns must be i added to plates II and IV, in JChe shape of outruns. But if II and IV receive each one outrunner of 2 horns, then they would act as 6 horns, which as remarked above, is not permissible because of even horn gears. The omitted I horn is for this reason added in two unequal parts (3 and 1 horn) to plates II and IV. i

As shown in construction Fig. 3 plate II has received 3 horn outrunner l) and there'- fore acts like a 7 horn; for plate IV would therefore remain only a one horn outrun, which however, is not possible. Plate IV must positively act with 4 and 1 horns. To .accomplish this, the gears have alternately a long and a short horn m1, y1, cu2, y2, andthe shape of the race-way is formed in such a manner that the carriers will slip oli the end ofthe short horns and come to a standstill in the extended part of the race-way, where they are held by either a spring or revolving stops. Those carriers going from V to IV are always seized by a short vhorn and carried in the direction of the arrow by change of tongue 1, as far as spring d, where they will slip o'l'f in the well known manner as above mentioned, in order to stand still for the space of 1 horn, only to be carried along again by the next long horn. The spring d, or a revolving stop or other contrivance to eliect the same purpose, is required to prevent the carrier from over-running and getting j ammed between the short horn and the curve of the race-way. At V the procedure is the same so that a soutache is formed if part of the bobbin carriers use only plates IV and V. But if carrier 2 travels from IV to III as indicated, then it will be seized by the long horn of III and carried along without interruption which occurs likewise if the cross over occurs from III to IV.

On this machine are roduced twisted threads or cords for lace e ects ii' the carriers run as shown on plates VII and t'.

Construction Fig. 4,-In the main as construction Fig. 1. When-the carriers return in this machine, two 4 horns remain unused which figure as 3 and 5 horn outrunnersfi. e., outrunner z and .el equal to 8 horns of plates XVII and XVIII. The peculiar manner of placing the outrunners must be especially accentuated, as it is only possible by this means to make carriers return on any late. The outrunning race-ways can also e placed on the insideV of the machine in construction Figs. 1, 4 and'3 and also on the outer side in construction Fig. 2 as may be desired, or some of the outrunners may be placed on the inside, the other ones on the outer side of the machine.

The slide switches employed in this device are ofthe kind shown in my/U. S. patent application Serial No. 299,790 led Feb. 6, 1906. The vibratingor swiveling switches are such as are known in the art and need no special description. The horn gears and plates are likewise rotated as usual in braiding machines. The horn gears are rotated by the usual gearing and rotary shafts located vunder the top plate of braiding ma chines and imparting rotary or bobbin proelling motion to the horn gears. The virating switches, as seen, are heartlshapedor tapered plates, the body or broad part of which is mounted on a swiveling stem. As the stem swivels the point or free end of the vibrating switches is swung to one side or an-` other to direct or switch the bobbin in the suitable direction.

The slide switches are made in the form of plates approximately triangular in shape and adapted to slide back and forth in rectilinear directions from one race way to another. Such slide switches are each moved by a lever suitably actuated and to which no claim is made in this application and as a slide switch moves onto a race-way it will a switch a bobbin out of the same onto another race way.

The check springs as seen, for example in Fig. 3 at c d g 7L Z m p g are readily formed by centric connected raceways, one forming a continuous closed circuit, the other a continu'ous circuit but disconnected at one place,-in combination with outrunning raceways.

2. A braidingmachine having two concentric connected raceways, one forming a continuous closed circuit, the other a continuous circuit but disconnected at one place and bobbin carriers, in combination with outrunning raceways; the raceways being constructed with plates, vibrating and sliding switches and horn gears for propelling the bobbin carriers.

3. A braiding machine comprising two concentric connected raceways, one of which forms a continuous closed circuit and the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at. one point, bobbin carriers and means for causing every bobbin carrier to be returned at will at any point of either of the concentric raceways.

4. A braiding machine comprising two' concentric connected raceways, one of which forms a continuous closed circuitand the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at one point, bobbin carriers supplementary outrunning raceways and horn gears for returning the bobbin carriers at any point or plate of the main raceway.

5. A braiding machine comprising two concentric connected raceways, one of which forms a continuous closed circuit and the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at one point, bobbin carriers and arresting means for causing the bobbin carriers to remain at rest the space of one horn of the horn gears of one of the concentric raceways. 6. A braiding machine comprising two concentric connected raceways, one of which forms a continuous closed circuit and the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at one point, bobbin carriers and springs forming ayielding stop for temporarily arresting the bobbin carriers and causing the same toremain at rest the space of one horn. 7. A braiding machine comprising two concentric connected raceways, one of which forms a continuous closed circuit and the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at one point combined with horn gears and bobbin carriers, and with vibrating and sliding switches for varying and interrupting the travel ofthe bobbin carriers.

8. A. braiding machine comprising two concentric connected raceways, one of which forms a continuous closed circuit and the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at one point combined with supplementary outrunning raceways, horn gears of ordinary construction for the continuous or tubular raceway and horn gears with long and short horns for the other raceway.

9. A braiding machine comprising two concentric connected raceways one of which forms a continuous closed circuit and the other one of which has the continuity interrupted at one oint combined with Outrunning raceways, orn gears for the continuous and for the interrupted raceway, the horn gears of the latter having alternate long and short horns, and gears for connecting the two raceways. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNHARD LEPPERHOFF.

Witnesses z OTTO KNIG, HEINR. AHLEFELDER. 

